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Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 9:56 pm
by Brucey
me too.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 5:35 pm
by hornhospital
Had the follow-up with the doctor after a biopsy a week ago. The cancer is still there. I start another cycle of 6 chemo treatments, one a week for 6 weeks, next Monday, then another biopsy at 8 weeks. They didn't do more resections to remove the cancer, because it's in the lining. If the chemo doesn't work, then next step is to remove the bladder.

They added Interferon to the chemo mix. As soon as I heard "Interferon" I knew the cost was going to go through the roof. It did. Co-pay went from $46.53 per treatment, to $346.53 per treatment. The Interferon added to the treatment is less than 1/8th ounce. Yup, the stuff is expensive!$2400 an ounce. It must be made from rust-free E9 body panels....

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 6:48 pm
by WelshBentleyBoy
Keep hanging on in there. I have had my prostate removed in 2002, Bowel tumour removed in 2011, liver tumour in 2012 and I am now 5 years clear and still driving my cars! My advice would be always find the best treatment you can afford. As in all areas there are some who are better than others. When I had my liver done it was state of the art surgery. My local man had done 5 or 6. The guy who did it had done 1100!!
My advice, take a second expert opinion before letting them remove the bladder. I am not a medical man but I have got the T shirt!
As a friend of mine used to say to women at parties "I am not a gynaecologist but I'll have a good look at it for you!"

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 3:17 am
by baders
Wishing you the very best Ken. As I mentioned before, my father had it. The series of treatments appear to have killed it and he won't have to have his bladder removed.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 5:58 am
by hornhospital
That's exactly the result I'm hoping for. It's good to hear of someone that had a successful outcome. Thank you.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 2:58 pm
by raykoke
hornhospital wrote: Wed May 09, 2018 5:58 am That's exactly the result I'm hoping for. It's good to hear of someone that had a successful outcome. Thank you.
You do that too!

:P

:)

Best,

Ray

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 8:07 pm
by Ralph in Socal
hornhospital wrote: Wed May 09, 2018 5:58 am That's exactly the result I'm hoping for. It's good to hear of someone that had a successful outcome. Thank you.
Vintage next year Ken. I want to do it and see you there as well. YOU WILL DO IT!!

Ralph

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 9:43 pm
by hornhospital
Just had the second treatment of the second round (6 in 6 weeks, this was number 2). I tolerated it better than a week ago. Side effects of the first treatment hit me a few days ago. "Flu-like symptoms". Yeah, I'll say! Hey, if it kills the cancer, that's a small price to pay.

It's a little awkward to address the GoFundMe that Nikki set up, but a big thank you to her for that and to all that have donated toward my treatment. Insurance companies are really peculiar when it comes to cancer treatments. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Great insurance, right? Except they don't pay for some of the most effective chemotherapy treatments. Go figure. Sad thing is I paid for a separate cancer policy for 28 years while working as a machinist that would have covered all of it, but when that job went away in 2009 I had to chose between BCBS or the cancer policy. I couldn't afford both. Now it's biting me in the butt....or bladder.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 8:13 am
by baders
Hang in there mate. My father goes in for testing (for recurrence) tomorrow so hoping it is all gone. One very important thing to note here is that they caught this early. They caught it early because my father happened to mention to my mother that he saw a small amount of blood in his urine. Mum made him go for a check up. He never would have done it if she had not nagged. See blood gents, GET IT CHECKED !

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:54 pm
by hornhospital
I hope your father got good news, Baders!

I had my 5th of 6 treatments yesterday. Next Friday I get to "ring the bell" at the infusion center, signifying I had my last chemo treatment. Then two weeks after that I'll have another biopsy to see if the chemo has worked /is working.

Thank you to any of you that gave to the GoFundMe campaign that Nikki set up. It really helped us financially and emotionally. It really bothers me to ask for help, but without it I couldn't have the chemo. I am awed by the generosity of people I've never even met.

Update....not good news

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:35 am
by hornhospital
I got some really not good news today from the biopsy two weeks ago.
Dr. Keel (urologist) says my bladder has to come out. Cancer continues to grow. Starting to invade the muscle around the bladder. Scheduled for surgery Oct. 22 at 7:30 in the morning. I have to be there at 5:30. Argh. That was the first open date he had. I hope it's not waiting too long. They were hoping the chemo would work. The type of cancer I have is resistant to chemo, but they tried the two kinds of chemicals that work the best and they didn't have any effect. The doctor drew me a chart of the progression of treatment. We ran out of options after the last resection/biopsy. It's gone from low grade to high grade, fast growing. Fortunately not considered aggressive....yet.
Sorry to burden you guys with this. I had to tell somebody. Pretty down right now. This forum, and being a moderator on Bimmerfest keeps my mind off it. Thanks for listening.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 12:43 pm
by GazM3
Geez Ken. My thoughts are with you. Cancer is a bitch. I saw new posts on this thread and didn’t want to click on for a while. Stay positive as you can. Often sickness is more difficult for the ones around you. Hope the news is better next time.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:58 pm
by sharkfan
We're all on an unknown length bit of string so just you make the absolute most of the days you have right in front of You.

Good luck Ken.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:14 pm
by NigelC
Dear Ken, my very best wishes to you for a positive outcome after your surgery. I have been following your thread since January with a lot of sympathy and understanding as at that same time I was diagnosed with aggressive terminal cancer caused by brief exposure to asbestos 36 years ago. Two separate types of chemo wore me down but could not stop it.I am now starting Immunitherapy which is not supported by our NHS (£8k per session!) first results promising. All the way through this I have maintained a 'very positive attitude' which I am quite sure makes a big difference. The positive brain and body are very powerful tools to help fight the cancer. -Plus the distraction of bigcoupe and our lovely sharks!
So from someone who knows what you are going through be mentally strong and positive -even when you don't feel like it!
yours sincerely, NigelC

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 7:53 am
by Pod
My thoughts are with you, Ken (and also Nigel). Hope everything is resolved when you have the surgery.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:26 pm
by hornhospital
Lots happening here. We are moving to my parents house before my surgery in two days (Monday, 22 Oct.). I inherited the house when my mom passed in 2012. It is bigger and in MUCH better condition than our house. I'll need the extra room around the bed for home health access and rehab. I didn't want to move (I'm one of those stick-in-the-mud "I don't like changes"curmudgeons), but it makes sense.

One of the changes is I really WILL be gone for a while. 5-7 days in the hospital, and from past experience there, it's like being under a Faraday shield. Practically zero cell signal, so I may not even be able to browse/post from my phone. So when I log off Sunday evening some time, I won't be back around for a week or so.

Thanks for the prayers and well wishes.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2018 1:38 am
by hornhospital
Survived the surgery, came home Thursday night, a couple days ahead of schedule . Got back from the follow-up appointment with Dr. Keel today about 1:45. Good report. Pathologist said they got all the cancer, including the prostate cancer they didn't know was there. No cancer in the lymph glands, so I won't need chemo or radiation. I go back next Tuesday to have the staples removed. Honestly it's my butt that hurts worse than any of the surgery sites. Fanny fatigue is killing me!

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2018 9:54 am
by Pod
Great news, Ken!

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 2:11 am
by baders
Good news Ken, glad the surgery went well. Also thinking of you too Nigel, best wishes to you mate from Down Under. My father had his check up that I wrote about and no sign of recurrence fortunately.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 5:29 am
by songzunhuang
Hooray! Best news I've heard in a while.
I'm looking forward to shooting the breeze about e24's with you in the future (and any other topics you want).

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 11:47 am
by NigelC
So pleased to hear your news, Ken, after your successful surgery and follow-up saying that they have got it all it sounds
like you have turned the corner at last - Great! and no need for any more chemo, -that's got to be good!
Wishing you a speedy recovery, regards, Nigel.
ps thank you Baders for you kind wishes, I think my new treatment is managing to reduce the cancer.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 4:58 pm
by sansouci
Nigel,
Best wishes and if there is anything on this side of the pond that we can do, just ask.
--Ken

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2018 1:44 am
by slofut
Hey Ken and Nigel,
Haven't been keeping up and haven't been on the forum in a while so I didn't know what you guys were dealing with. My brother (50yrs old) just got done with stage 4 colon cancer, all is good, he hardly missed much work and is determined not to let it slow him down. My heart is with you guys and I wish you all the best in recovery and getting back to normal and back to driving your e24's!
Much love,
Bill

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 10:51 pm
by hornhospital
Bit of a setback.....threw a blood clot and have an infection. Back in the hospital for a few days. I thought I was doing pretty well, too. Just another challenge.

Re: Gonna be gone for a while

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:49 pm
by MrsBee
You want to give us all an update, Ken?